Department of Chemistry

Department of Chemistry

Would you like to conduct independent research with state-of-the-art instrumentation on campus and at prestigious summer research programs in the U.S.? Use chemical modeling programs to investigate solutions for real-world problems such as cancer or water scarcity? Volunteer your time to help educate elementary and middle school students?

Consider a major in chemistry at Agnes Scott, where you can gain a comprehensive understanding of matter and energy in the visible world, at the molecular level and at the sub-atomic level. Approved by the American Chemical Society, our chemistry program provides you a thorough grounding in the principles and applications of modern chemistry, as well as extensive practical experience with research-quality instruments and experimental design.

Learn through Lively Classroom Interaction
At Agnes Scott, you’ll collaborate with professors and classmates to solve challenging problems through open dialogue. You’ll also enjoy one-on-one mentoring from your professors and fascinating lectures and demonstrations.

Pursue Your Interests Through Research
While many larger institutions reserve research for graduate students, undergraduate majors who meet GPA requirements can propose and execute their own research projects and/or participate in the ongoing projects of our chemistry faculty. Agnes Scott students can also apply for summer research programs at both U.S. and international universities, summer and academic research fellowships with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as various internships. For example, our students have recently participated in National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, conducted summer research projects at Harvey Mudd College and University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and completed an internship at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

These research opportunities ensure that our majors excel on campus and beyond. Hannah Peters ’09 presented her work at a National Science Foundation-sponsored conference at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayguez. Abena Frempong ’06 presented her research at the 231st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in 2006, and she is now obtaining her masters in public health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

Get Involved and Become a Leader At Agnes Scott, you can join the American Chemical Society as a student affiliate. You’ll meet regularly during the academic year and organize events such as the chemistry open house during National Chemistry Week. You can also help lead workshops and provide tutoring for all math and science majors at the Resource Center for Mathematics and Science.

Apply for Prestigious Scholarships Agnes Scott encourages its chemistry students to apply for national, undergraduate scholarships such as:

The American Chemical Society Scholars Program (Charlisa Daniels ’05 was an ACS scholar and is working on her Ph.D. in chemistry at University of Houston. The summer research opportunities she pursued as an undergraduate through this program led to her being coauthor on a number of peer-reviewed journal articles.)

What can I do with this degree?
A degree in chemistry will provide you with an excellent foundation for any career in the molecular sciences. You will strengthen your skills in creative problem solving, critical thinking and strategizing in collaborative teams. You will also develop many new skills—learning to use laboratory techniques and scientific instruments, to conduct scientific research, to write scientifically and to analyze scientific findings. As a graduate, you can: